Since the 1960s, Dublin-born independent film producer David Shaw-Smith has documented skilled practitioners of more than 40 traditional Irish crafts for the Irish National Archives, from woodcarvers, thatchers, and potters to Waterford glassblowers, goldsmiths, and harpwrights. Here he offers a companion volume to his film work, with more than 620 color photos and drawings.

"If it were possible to package the world of Irish crafts between covers, Shaw-Smith's book would do it.... Crisp photography, exquisite illustrations, and a well-written historical perspective highlight 48 individual crafts organized within the categories of textiles, stonework, woodwork, leather, metalwork, ceramics, glassware, calligraphy, and willow, rush, and straw. Each craft's history and lore are intriguingly presented. The story of hand knitting, for example, includes references to literature as the types and meanings of various stitches are explained."—Booklist